Physical conditioning treadmill apparatus



July 25, 1967 1. 1. RAND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TREADMILL APPARATUSlFiled March 18, 1965 INVENTOR J. Rond MZ 4Q/5X ATTORNEY Fig. 2

United States Patent 3,332,683 PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TREADMILL APPARATUSJimmy J. Rand, Rte. 1, Box 223, Groesbeek, Tex. 76642 Filed Mar. 18,1965, Ser. No. 440,734 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) The present inventionrelates to physical conditioning apparatus and more particularly tophysical conditioning apparatus of a treadmill type. The apparatusprovided by `the present invention is especially useful -in thedevelopment of fundamental skills in football and is also beneficial inany physical conditioning program.

The popularity of football as a spectator sport has in creased to veryhigh levels in recent years. The sport is played by participants over awide range of ages and competition between teams is quite high. Sincefootball is an extremely rigorous contact sport, it is very importantthat the participants be in excellent physical condition in order thatthey can play to their maximum physical ability as well as preventphysical injury.

The present invention provides physical conditioning apparatus which canbe utilized as a year round training and conditioning machine forathletes. Moreover, the apparatus of the present invention can be usedas an excellent aid in teaching an athlete to assume the proper stance,weight distribution and leg action as would be used in blocking,tackling and ball carrying.

In accordance with the present invention, a continuous rubber belt movesacross two spaced apart rollers. Two vertically disposed body resistorswhich are individually adjustable horizontally zare positioned slightlyin front of the belt. A friction brake is also provided for controllingthe force required to move the belt. In Operating the device, pressureis applied by the individual against the body resistor. The bodyresistor acts as resistance or opposing force which creates thrust ordriving power by the individuals leg action upon the belt. The amount ofwork output by the individual is controlled by the brake. When the brakeis released, the belt will move quite freely and the work required torun on the device will be comparable to any sprint or dash.

Features of the invention which are believed novel are set forth withgreater particularity in the appended claims. Many objects andadvantages of the invention will, however, become apparent to thoseskilled in the art as the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention unfolds when taken in conjunctionwith the appended drawings in which like reference numerals denote likeparts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of thephysical conditioning apparatus provided by the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the apparatus provided by thepresent invention;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation view with the body resistors of the presentinvention in one position;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation view showing the body resistons in adifferent position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevation view illustrating the manner inwhich tension of the belt can be adjusted; and

3,332,683 Patented. July 25, 1967 ICC' FIGURE 6 is `a view taken alongline 6-6 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the braking device of the presentinvention in somewhat greater detail.

Turning now to the drawings, it can be seen that there is provided aframe, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, which consistsof two elongated runners 12 and 14 which are suitably formed of heavygauge steel and are of channel configuration. Two horizontally disposedchannel members 16 and 18 extend between members 12 and 14 for holdingmembers 12 and 14 in spaced apart parallel' relation. Members 16 and 18are suitably attached to members 12 and 14 by welding.

As best seen in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, each of the members 12 and 14are of generally channel configuration a-nd include a web portion 20, atirst leg portion 22 and a second leg portion 24. The second leg portion24 is elongated and bent inwardly at 26 and outwardly at 28. Theoutwardly extending portion 28 suitablyy bears against the upper side ofthe channels 16 yand 18, as shown. The ends of each of the channelssuitably slant upwardly from the bottom leg 22 as show-n in FIGURE 1 andrunners 30 and 32 are suitably provided over the ends for purposes ofcovering any edges which may be present and facilitating sliding of theapparatus across a surface.

A iirst pair of pillow block bearings 40 are mounted to channel members12 and 14, suitably by screws 42 and nuts 44 as shown in FIGURE 6. Ashaft 46 extends between the pair of bearings 40 and is journalled forrotation therein. The shaft 46 suitably extends past one of the bearings40 as indicated at 48 of FIGURE 6, and a pulley 50 having a groove 51formed in its periphery is mounted on the shaft 46 for rotationtherewith. Also mounted on the shaft 46 is a roller 52. Roller 52 issuitably of greater diameter at itsvcenter portion than `at its ends 56.It will also be noticed that the periphery of the roller 52 extendsbelow the upper edge of the channels 12 and 14 and faces the inwardlyextending shoulder 26.

A pair of upright channel members 60 and 62 are connected at their lowerends to the front of the channels 12 and 14, respectively, suitably bywelding. A iirst horizontally disposed rod 64 is connected to `andextends between the upright members 60 and 62 at their upper extremity.A second horizontally disposed rod 62 also extends between theuprightmembers 60 and 62, the rod 66 being substantially lower than the rod 64.

Two body resistors and 72 are also provided. In the form shown, the bodyresistors 70 and 72 each include a ilat elongated member 74 which isattached to the cross bars 64 and 66, suitably by clips 76. By looseningthe .clips 76, the position of the body resistor along the cross bars 64and 66 can be adjusted horizontally. A pad 78, suitably of rubbercushion, is attached to the upper portion of the body resistors 70 and72 as shown in FIGURE 1. The pad 78 is covered and held to the member 74by a layer 80 of expanded vinyl or similar material.

Extending rearwardly from the upright member 60 and connected thereto,suitably by welding is a brake support 90. A brake arm 92 is pivotallyattached to the support at point 94. The brake arm 92 suitably includesa plurality of notches 96 formed along its upper edge at graduatedpositions. A weight 98 is also provided. The weight 98 is suitably ofconventional type having a slot 100 formed therein whereby the weight 98can move along the brake arm k92 and includes an edge portion forengaging the notches 96 to hold the weight in a desired position. Ablock 102 of wood or similar material is also provided, the lower edge104 of the block 102 being arranged in a V-conguration which conforms tothe groove 51 of the pulley 50. The block 102 is mounted to the brakehandle 92, suitably by screw 106 and nut 108 in a position such that thelower edge 104 of the block 102 will engage the groove 51 of the pulley50.

As best shown in FIGURE of the drawings, the upper edge of the members12 and 14 are each slotted at 110 and 112. A pair of L-shaped brackets1,14 and a second pair of pillow block bearings 116 are also provided.Bearings 116 and brackets 114 are each connected to the channel members12 and 14 by bolts 118 and nuts 120 as shown, with the bearings restingon the Y horizontally disposed portion of brackets 114. Each of therunners 32 extend above the upper surface of the channels 12 and 14 at122 and has an aperture 124 formed therein. A stud 126 is connected atone end to the L- shaped bracket 114, with the stud extending throughthe aperture 124. A second shaft 130 extends between the pair ofbearings 116, and is journalled for rotation therein. A second roller132 is connected to the shaft 130, in the manner described previouslywith regard to shaft 48 and roller 52.

A continuous belt 140 is also provided. Belt 140 er1- circles the tworollers 52 and 132. The tension of the belt 140 can be adjusted byadjusting the position of the bearings 116 in which the shaft 130 isjournalled for rotation. This can suitably be accomplished by looseningthe nuts 120, permitting the bolts 118 to move in the slots 110 and 112and adjusting the nuts 144 to cause the bearings 116 to be pulled towardportion 122 of the skid member 32. In this regard, it will be noted thatit isimportant that provision be made for adjusting the tension of thebelts since under use, they will normally stretch to some extent. If thebelts are too tight, it will be extremely diiiicult to cause the belt tomove, and if the belt is too loose, it will sag to such an extent thatthe athlete utilizing the apparatus cannot properly maintain hisbalance.

In operation ofthe apparatus, body resistors 70 and 72 are positioned inaccordance with the training desired. Thus, if it is desired to teachthe proper stance, weight distribution and leg action for blocking andtackling, the body resistors would suitably be adjusted to the positionshown in FIGURE 3, in which event only the left shoulder of the athletewould bear against the body re-V sistors. As mentioned previously, thebody resistors act as a resistance or opposing force which createsthrust or driving power by the individuals leg action upon the belt. Thebelt will start turning and continue to turn as long as there is drivingforce by the legs on the belt.

It will be noted that the brake is positioned at a point that will beconvenient for either the athlete to vary the position of the weight 98or for the coach or trainer to do so. The position of the Weight alongthe handle 92 determines the amount of force with which the wooden block102 bears against the pulley 50, therebycontrolling the amount of workrequired by the athlete to cause the belt to move. The position of thebody resistors 70 and 72 would be moved to the extreme right position,of course, if it were desired to utilize the right shoulder `of theathlete in the blocking or tackling exercise.

If the apparatus is to be used only for conditioning, it is practical toseparate the body resistors 70 and 72 to the extreme position shown inFIGURE 4, which position is practical for two athletes to utilize theapparatus simultaneosuly. In other instances, it is practical to lmoveboth the body resistors 70 and 72 toward the center position from thatshown in FIGURE 4 such that the space betweenV the body resistors 70 and72 will only be suicient to permit the athletes head to passtherethrough with both shoulders bearing against one of the bodyresistors.

As mentioned previously, the rollers S2 and 132 are each suitably of agreater diameter at its center portion than at its end portions. Thebelt will therefore tend to move toward the center of the rollers ratherthan toward the ends as the belt moves and the rollers turn. Moreover,if the belt 140 should move toward one of the ends, the distance it canmove is limited by the presence of the inwardly turned portion 26 of thechannels 12 and 14. Further, the outwardly extending portion 28 of thechannels 12 and 14 provide a track for the belt to support the belt whenit is being installed and to prevent the edge of the belt rubbingagainst a sharp edge and producing undue wear.

Although the invention has only been described with reference to aparticular preferred embodiment thereof, many changes Vand modicationswill become Vapparent to those skilled in the art in view of theforegoing description. The foregoing description is therefore intendedto be illustrative and not limiting of the invention dened in theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A training and conditioning apparatus comprising:

(a) first and second elongated rollers, each of said rollers having ashaft projecting from each end thereof;

(b) a frame;

(c) a first and second pairV of bearings mounted to said frame, theshaft of each roller being journalled for rotation in a respective pairof said bearings;

(d) two upright spaced apart members connected to said frame;

(e) two vertically spaced apart horizontally disposed members extendingbetween said upright members;

(f) two upright body arresting members;

(g) means releasably connecting each said body arresting members to bothsaid horizontally disposed members whereby the position of said bodyarresting members along said horizontally disposed members can bechanged;

(h) continuous belt means supported by said first and second rollerswhereby a person pushing against said body arresting members wheresupported on said belt means will produce movement of said continuousbelt means; and

(i) variable braking means for retarding rotation of one of said rollersto thereby control the amount of force necessary to produce movement ofsaid continuous belt means.

2. A training and conditioning apparatus as dened in claim 1 furtherincluding means for adjusting the separation between said first andsecond pair of bearings to control the tension of said continuous beltmeans.

3. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid rollers are each of a greater diameter at their median point thanat their ends.

4. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid braking means comprises a pulley connected to the shaft of one ofsaid rollers, said pulley having a groove formed in its periphery, abody of material softer than the material of said pulley engaging thegroove of said pulley, means pivotally connecting said body of materialto said frame and means for varying the force with which said body ofmaterial bears against the groove of said pulley.

5. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid braking means comprises a pulley connected to the shaft of oneV ofsaid rollers, said pulley having a groove formed in its periphery, anelongated member pivotally connected to said apparatus above saidpulley, a body of material softer than the material of said pulleyengaging the groove of said pulley and carried by said elongated member,and a weight carried by said elongated member for controlling the forcewith which said body of material bears against said pulley.

6. A training and conditioning apparatus as defined in 5 6 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,296 5/ 1904 Morairty 272-69 921,755 5/1909 Volk 272-69 1,211,765 1/ 1917 Schmidt 272-69 2,315,485 4/ 1943Jones 272-69 3,193,287 7/ 1965 Robinson 272-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 416,1059/ 1934 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TRAINING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) FIRST ANDSECOND ELONGATED ROLLERS, EACH OF SAID ROLLERS HAVING A SHAFT PROJECTINGFROM EACH END THEREOF; (B) A FRAME; (C) A FIRST AND SECOND PAIR OFBEARINGS MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME, THE SHAFT OF EACH ROLLER BEINGJOURNALLED FOR ROTATION IN A RESPECTIVE PAIR OF SAID BEARINGS; (D) TWOUPRIGHT SPACED APART MEMBERS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME; (E) TWO VERTICALLYSPACED APART HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAIDUPRIGHT MEMBERS; (F) TWO UPRIGHT BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS; (G) MEANSRELEASABLY CONNECTING EACH SAID BODY ARRESTING MEMBERS TO BOTH SAIDHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS WHEREBY THE POSITION OF SAID BODYARRESTING MEMBERS ALONG SAID HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED MEMBERS CAN BECHANGED; (H) CONTINUOUS BELT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST AND SECONDROLLERS WHEREBY A PERSON PUSHING AGAINST SAID BODY ARRESTING MEMBERSWHERE SUPPORTED ON SAID BELT MEANS WILL PRODUCE MOVEMENT OF SAIDCONTINUOUS BELT MEANS; AND (I) VARIABLE BRAKING MEANS FOR RETARDINGROTATION OF ONE OF SAID ROLLERS TO THEREBY CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF FORCENECESSARY TO PRODUCE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTINUOUS BELT MEANS.